Viking Newsletter
Jim Calabrese, Superintendent, Taft SD 90
October 25, 2026
Early Dismissal - October 30, 2026 - 1:45 PM
Taft Parent Athletic Association Fundraiser
Double dribble....NEVER! Double Good Popcorn, YES! Support our youngest athletes by purchasing some delicious popcorn. Choose one of our TPAA Basketball teams to support, scan their QR code, or click their link. Popcorn will get shipped straight to your house. Can't pick a team? Just support the Taft Foundation!
Viking of the Week
This week, we are excited to celebrate our 7th grader, Elmer C. We love having him as part of our Taft family and are happy to shine a little extra spotlight on him. Seventh grade is a busy year, and we are proud to recognize Elmer as he continues to grow and make the most of his time at Taft. Mrs. Rittenhouse has noticed how hard he is working. Elmer is a great math student who always tries his best. He participates every day and often has different ways to solve the problems that are correct. Elmer will offer his help to other students if they need help. He makes connections from what we are learning in class to what we have previously learned.
When Elmer is not in school, he plays percussion in the Taft band. He is in Beta Club. He likes Hip-Hop music and traveling to Mexico. He also likes to play Roblox. Keep up the great work, Elmer; we are so proud of you.
Message from Mrs. Thompson
I can’t believe it’s the last week of October!! As we head into the week, here are a few important reminders for our families.
Report Cards: Report cards are now available in TeacherEase! Please take a few minutes to log in and review your child’s grades and teacher comments. This is a great opportunity to celebrate their successes and check in on any areas where they may need a little extra support. If you have questions about a grade or comment, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher.
Boo Grams: Don’t forget that Boo Gram money and order forms are due no later than Monday! This is always such a fun Halloween tradition, so make sure to get those orders in on time!
Red Ribbon Week: Next week we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week with the theme “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free!” We have some fun activities planned throughout the week along with dress-up days to help our students make healthy choices, be positive role models, and remember that they have the power to make a difference.
Awards Ceremony: We are excited to celebrate our Vikings and recognize their hard work and accomplishments at our upcoming Awards Ceremony! Invitations were sent home on Friday with students who will be receiving an award. Be sure to check your child’s backpack! All 7th Grade Families are invited to attend, as they will be performing a special body percussion song during the ceremony!
Halloween: We are also looking forward to one of our favorite Taft traditions, the annual Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 30 at 1:15 p.m.! We can’t wait to see all of our Vikings dressed up and ready for some Halloween fun! We have a 1:45 dismissal on Friday.
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Students are welcome to wear their costumes to school that day. Please make sure costumes are easy for students to get on and off independently, especially when using the restroom. Grades 2–8: Students will have the opportunity to change into their costumes after lunch,
Please remember that all costumes must be school-appropriate, and weapons or weapon-like props of any kind are not permitted.
We are excited to see all of the creative costumes and celebrate Halloween together!
Finally, please check out the information for the 40 Book Challenge below!
Sports Update
The Lady Vikings had 4 games this week. Both teams won 3 out of 4 of the games. They beat Washington, Rockdale and Elwood but came up short against Oak Prairie. The girls play at Humphrey on Tuesday at 4:30, at Laraway on Wednesday at 4:15 and at Kelvin Grove on Thursday at 4:00. Good luck ladies.
Message from the Lockport Police Department
The flyer provides a quick overview of what is and is not permitted within the City of Lockport, including age restrictions and operating requirements for Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes, electric scooters, and electric dirt bikes. We hope getting this information directly to parents will help clarify some of the rules and encourage safe and responsible riding.
Updated Cell Phone Policy
Per Illinois Senate Bill 2427, Taft Grade School requires that all student cell phones and personal electronic devices remain off and stored in the student's assigned locker (5-8th grade)/backpack (K-4th grade) for the entire instructional day.
Bell-to-Bell Expectations
Students must turn off all cell phones, smartwatches capable of communication, and other personal electronic devices before entering the school building.
Devices must be stored in the student's locker (Grades 5-8) or in a backpack (K-4) upon arrival and must remain there until the dismissal bell.
Students may not carry, use, or access personal electronic devices during the school day, including passing periods, lunch, recess, study halls, or restroom breaks, unless specifically authorized by school administration as required by law.
Students are responsible for ensuring their devices are powered off and securely stored.
For further information, please see our student handbook on our Taft website (under the Parents tab, then Resources)
We know that a new cell phone policy is a slight change, but we truly believe it will be a great change for our students, our classrooms, and our entire school community! Our goal is simple: more learning, more connection, and fewer distractions. As a reminder, all of our classrooms have phones in them and we routinely allow students to call home throughout the day so we do not anticipate this changing very much for our daily operations.
NEW Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
Morning Arrival (8:10 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.)
Beginning at 8:10 a.m., all students should be dropped off at either:
Door 2 (16th Street Drop-Off Lane), or
Door 7 (17th Street Drop-Off Lane).
Upon entering the building, all students will report directly to the auditorium, where they will remain under staff supervision until dismissed to their classrooms at 8:20 a.m.
Morning Arrival After 8:20 a.m.
Students arriving after 8:20 a.m. should enter through Door 2 or Door 7 and proceed directly to their classrooms.
Students arriving after 8:30 should enter through the main entrance and check in with the office.
LASEC Classrooms
Students enrolled in LASEC classrooms should be dropped off and picked up at the main entrance located at the front of the building.
Afternoon Dismissal
Kindergarten students are dismissed from Door 2 near the kindergarten classroom.
1st and 2nd Grade students are dismissed from Door 4, near the playground.
K-2 Students must be picked up by a parent, guardian, or designated older sibling and checked out with their teacher.
3rd and 4th Grade students are dismissed from Door 7 (17th Street).
5th through 8th Grade students are dismissed from Door 2 (16th Street).
LASEC classrooms are dismissed from the main entrance.
Note from Nurse McGraw
Students entering Early Childhood, Kindergarten, and Grade 6, or who are entering an Illinois school from out of state or out of the country at any grade level, must provide proof of physical examination with current immunizations on the Illinois-approved form
The exam must be completed no earlier than a year (365 days) prior to the student’s first day of attendance and must be turned in by October 15, 2025 to avoid exclusion from school.
If transferring from an in-state school, please be sure the health exam from the required grade level is handed in.
Health Examinations
All students entering early childhood-including speech services, kindergarten, and 6th grade are required to have a current physical examination completed on the approved Illinois Department of Public Health Form.. A sports physical does not meet the requirement. The parent portion on the upper backside of the form must be completed and signed. Required physical exam with updated immunizations must be turned in by October 15,2023 to avoid exclusion from school.
Preschool
Complete Preschool Physical Examination
No additional immunization requirement if up-to-date.
Kindergarten
Complete Kindergarten Physical Examination and all required immunizations including:
Two doses of MMR Vaccine
Four doses of Polio Vaccine
Four doses of DPT/DTaP Vaccine
Three doses of Hepatitis B
Two doses of Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox)
Complete Kindergarten Eye Examination - Must be turned in prior to October 15 of the current school year.
Complete Kindergarten Dental Examination - Must be turned in prior to May 15 of the current school year.
6th Grade
Complete 6th grade Physical Examination and all required immunizations including:
One dose of Tdap Vaccine
One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (meningitis) after the 11th birthday
Two doses of Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox)
Three doses of Hepatitis B at the required intervals
Complete 6th grade Dental Examination - Must be turned in prior to May 15 of the current school year.
Students entering an Illinois school from out of state or out of the country for the first time at any grade level must also provide the physical exam form. The exam must be completed no earlier than a year (365 days) prior to the start of attendance at an Illinois school.
Social Media Guidance
Teachers and Administration have been addressing social media challenges. We cannot do this alone and need support from home. We understand that social media is a significant part of their social world. While platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can be fun and engaging, they also come with risks that require careful attention and guidance.
Here are some tips to help keep your child safe online:
Open Communication
Talk openly with your child about their online activities. Ask which platforms they use, who they interact with, and what they post. Creating a judgment-free space encourages them to share concerns or ask for help if needed.Address Negative Posting or Commenting
Talk to your child about the impact of posting or commenting on content in a way that isn’t nice. Explain how words can hurt, even online, and encourage them to pause and think about how their comments might affect others. Reinforce that being kind and respectful online reflects positively on their character.Privacy Settings
Help your child enable privacy settings on their accounts to limit who can see their posts and send messages. Regularly review these settings as platforms often update their features.Recognize Red Flags
Teach your child to identify and report inappropriate behavior, such as cyberbullying or messages from strangers. Let them know it’s okay to block someone who makes them uncomfortable.Lead by Example
Model healthy social media habits. Be mindful of your own online behavior, and show your child how to use social media responsibly.
Junior high is a time of growth and discovery, and social media can play a positive role when used thoughtfully. By working together, we can help ensure our students stay safe while enjoying the benefits of technology.
If you have any questions or would like additional resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Taft School District 90
Email: j.calabrese@taftsd90.org
Website: www.taft90.org
Location: 1605 South Washington Street, Lockport, IL, USA
Phone: (815)838-0434
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taft.vikings
Twitter: @jjcalabrese